Imagine being in the middle of endless vasts of a desert, but instead of sand, all you see around you is salt! That’s what Kutch offers. The stunning white desert of Kutch is nothing but an endless stretch of salt. This white wonderland in Gujarat is easily accessible from Ahmedabad and witnesses scores of tourists flocking to it every year.
Covering 30,000 sq km across the Indo-Pak border, Kutch is the world’s largest salt desert. The stretch covers the Great and the Little Rann of Kutch and the Banni grassland. Known for its Kutchi handicrafts, lively fairs and colourful people, Kutch is a traveller’s dream. So, let’s take a look at a few places that should definitely be a part of all Kutch travel packages.
The Little Rann of Kutch
The Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) is known for its seasonal wetlands. This part of Kutch remains flooded during the monsoons and turns into arid mudflats during the summers. If you’re at the Little Rann, don’t miss the safari in the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary. Not known to many, the endangered wild ass is found solely in the Little Rann.
The LRK is also known for its birding opportunities. You can spot scores of flamingos, along with a host of migratory birds, during the months of November to March. In fact, Kutch tour packages are incomplete without some exotic bird sightings!
The LRK is also the perfect place to witness an awesome sunset. As the Sun goes down, you will be thrilled to experience the enthralling beauty of the moon-lit Kutch! You can also pay a visit to the salt marshes nearby to see how salt crystals are extracted from the salt marshes! We suggest you end the day having dinner by the bonfire, while sharing travel tales with your fellow travellers!
The Great Rann of Kutch
A day-long road trip from the LRK will lead you to Dholavira, which can be a pitstop for your trip to the Great Rann of Kutch (GRK). Don’t miss the Road to Heaven, a 30 km stretch from Dholavira to Dhordo, flanked by endless salt marshes. You can catch a breathtaking sunrise there! In fact, this is one of the best places to visit in Kutch.
The terrain also offers lots of unexplored hiking trails. In the evening, you can catch a surreal sunset at the Khadir Bet sunset point. If you’re lucky enough to be in Kutch during a Full Moon night, don’t miss checking out how the salt marshes glisten under the Moon.
And if you love the hustle and bustle of the colourful Rann, instead of its serenity, you can visit the extravagant White Rann Tent City during the Gujarat Tourism-backed annual Rann Utsav that takes place from October/November to February every year. From delectable cuisines to camel rides, song and dance sessions to luxury tent stays, you’ll get everything!
Dholavira
Apart from LRK and GRK, another legendary site that all Kutch travel packages must include is Dholavira, which houses the Harappan ruins! Known as one of the largest Indus Valley Civilization sites in India (the other one being Mohenjo-Daro, in Pakistan), Dholavira’s ruins show a well-planned sewage and drainage system. Apart from this, you can also check out the city centre, the granaries and a whole amphitheatre from ages back at this UNESCO World Heritage Site!
How to Reach Kutch
By Air
The Bhuj Airport is the nearest to Kutch. The airport is well-connected to major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bengaluru.
By Road
You can hire cabs from Bhuj to Kutch. A long road trip from Ahmedabad (about 400 km away) or Rajkot (around 300 km away) can also take you to Kutch.
By Train
While Kutch doesn’t have a railway station of its own, Bhuj is the nearest rail station. Bhuj station is well-connected to major cities such as Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
Other Attractions Near Kutch
Kalo Dungar:
Located at a height of 462 m, Kalo Dungar (or the Black Hill) is known as Kutch’s highest point, It offers gorgeous views of the Great Rann salt marshes. It also houses an ancient temple of Lord Dattatreya. The Indo-Pak border is located around 40 km north from this place.
Sun Temple, Modhera:
This is an ancient temple dedicated to the Sun God and dates back to the Chaulukya dynasty. There is a gorgeous step-well here that makes for great photo ops, and the detailed sculptures will stun you too! Built in 1026-27 A.D., during King Bhimdev I of Patan’s reign, this temple is positioned in such a manner that the Sun falls right at place of worship during the equinoxes. This temple is around 100 km away from Ahmedabad and can be visited on your way to Kutch.
Fossil Park:
Located a little over 50 km from Bhuj, the Kutch Fossil Park is a dream for those interested in paleontology. Founded by army veteran Mohan Singh Sodha in 2002, this park houses a great collection of fossils of animals, plants and even dinosaurs.
Earthquake Museum:
The Smritivan Earthquake Memorial and Museum in Bhuj started as a tribute to the thousands of people who had lost their lives in the massive earthquake that destroyed Bhuj on January 26, 2001.
Rani ki Vav, Patan:
The Rani ki Vav stepwell (located almost a 6-hour drive away from Kutch) is one of the many stunning architectural marvels of Gujarat that dates back to the Chaulukya era. Located in Patan, this historical site has been featured on the India 100-rupee note and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a must-see destination in all Kutch packages.
